Free seminar to help parents understand signs and characteristics of ADHD

Learning Lab, Brentwood will present a free seminar, Does My Child Have ADHD? Diagnosing and What's Next?, on Thursday June 24, 2010 from 7:00-8:00 PM at the Maryland Farms YMCA in Brentwood. The seminar will be presented by Dr. David Elkins, Clinical Psychologist and Supervising Psychologist of Learning Lab, and Vanessa Adams, School Psychologist of Learning Lab, Brentwood.

This is the first seminar in the ADHD Summer Seminar Series sponsored by the Maryland Farms YMCA to help support parents who know or may suspect their children have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

ADHD is a developmental disorder that affects millions of people, especially children. It affects a child's learning, behavior, social skills and self-esteem at home, in school, at play and, later in life, even in the workplace. Most parents need help to distinguish the actual symptoms of ADHD from normal behaviors that may appear to have some of the characteristics of ADHD. Knowing this important difference is the first step toward an accurate diagnosis and successful treatment.

"What does ADHD really look like?" asked Dr. Elkins, "One parent may look at a child who can't focus, can't follow directions, can't complete a simple task or can't sit still and see characteristics of ADHD. Another parent may see the same child as merely being difficult, immature or acting 'goofy' as normal kids sometimes do."

"The differences between normal childhood behaviors and ADHD are not readily apparent," Elkins continued. "They require a deeper, professional assessment to determine which is which."

The seminar will help parents understand the signs and characteristics of ADHD, the different types of ADHD and the various steps in the diagnostic process. It will also address some of the misconceptions and misinformation about this disorder.

"Parents who suspect their child may have ADHD often have many important questions," said Adams. "What are the benefits of professional evaluation and a formal diagnosis? Will my child have to take medication? How should I change my parenting style to be more positive and helpful? How do I keep teachers and doctors on the same page?

"This seminar can help answer these questions and show parents how to move forward to diagnosis and appropriate treatment," she added."